Amanda's (belated) birthday post

I would say that I'm a good friend. I mean it's not everyday that you make a friend (me) who will gladly and lovingly fashion a deliciously moist chocolate cake (after making 2 other birthday cakes the same week) AND drive 3 hours to see your face and celebrate with you slash send death glares at your undeserving boyfriend of too-long. But hey, I'm a firm believer in spreading the love, so in short, Amanda, because I'm such a fabulous friend, I expect a check in a mail by the end of this week.

(And Krupa, honestly, wtf. Dinner party slash meeting your new boy before I leave for Paris.)

So my little Amanda turned twenty-one last month. She got her raunchy partying out of the way before I got to see any of it (live, at least) thankfully. But I sobered her up (a little) and we went the classy route by blueberry picking and wine-tasting in Los Olivos. It was a fun and sleepy weekend and always nice to see the sights and completely different lifestyle that makes Santa Barbara, well, Santa Barbara.

Using the skills I learned from my cake-decorating class, voila!!! Heehee. I'm so proud of it. Sadly, the marshmallow cream melted into a blob, but the cream in the center made the cake nice and moist.

I love blueberries.
Although once out on the field it begins to feel more like intense manual labor than a fun summertime activity. I was paying to do manual labor. . . but at least I got to stuff myself with blueberries.

Nice rustic photos, I thought.

Sarloos and Sons in Los Olivos had delicious miniature (and regular sized) cupcakes that they pair with the wine.
So. Good.
The wine by itself however, a little overbearing.

Our second stop was Artiste.
I loved this tasting room.
It was so charming and quirky. They have artists who design labels for their wines.
Andrea (Amanda's older sister) recommended and approved.

Here's me drunkenly painting.
No, I'm just kidding. I wasn't drunk.
just happy.

Afterwards we had dinner at Petros, an empty, but nice, Greek-style restaurant.

On the last day we went over to Amanda's baker friend & his roommate Adam's, HEE, (very eerily clean) apartment and baked scones.

Scones are a lovely way to make new friends.

Happy birthday Amanda.